"Happy to cooperate with ED," says NCP Leader Praful Patel in first response after ED summons him in UPA-era Aviation Scam

Former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has given his first response minutes after the Enforcement Directorate summoned him for questioning in connection with a money-laundering probe related to alleged irregularities in the procurement of 111 aircraft worth about ₹70,000 crore, leasing of planes under the UPA regime.

Speaking to news agency ANI, the former Civil Aviation Minister and NCP leader on Saturday said that he will be happy to cooperate with the Enforcement Directorate to help them understands the "complexities" of the aviation sector.

READ | MASSIVE: ED Summons Former Minister Of Civil Aviation Praful Patel, To Be Quizzed On 212 Crore Kickbacks Case

Meanwhile, Republic Media Network has learnt that Praful Patel will be probed in the 212 crore kickbacks case and has already been named in the chargesheet filed by the ED in May against Deepak Talwar and his son Adityanath Talwar over negotiations favouring foreign private airlines including Qatar Airways, Emirates and Air Arabia during the UPA-era.

The allegation registered against them in the Aviation scam claims that private airlines were given preference by reducing the routes of Air India flights, thus causing losses to the national carrier.

Officials sources have further said Patel needs to be put through certain revelations made by arrested aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar in the case and certain evidence unearthed by the agency in pursuit of this case filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The probe agency had claimed entities directly or indirectly controlled by the accused received exorbitant amounts from Qatar Airways, Emirates and Air Arabia and submitted a chart totalling USD 60.54 million received by firms directly or indirectly owned by Talwar between April 23, 2008, to February 6, 2009.

Investigation in this case by ED is based on the FIR filed by CBI in August 2017 against officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, NACIL, Air India and unknown private persons. 

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(With agency inputs)